As the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal comes up at Capitol Hill, back home, another deal is getting close to being sealed.

It is New Delhi’s acquisition of the USS Trenton, an American amphibious warship which was offered to the Indian Navy last year. With Washington’s crucial letter of acceptance (LoA) in, South Block is set to close the deal by early next month.

The warship, currently undergoing a complete refit at Norfolk, Virginia, and capable of carrying close to 1,500 personnel, will be delivered to the Navy in early 2007. Following the Indo-US strategic framework signed last year, the ship was offered to the navy as a quick symbolic reflection of the new diplomatic relationship.

A team of Indian officers from all possible warship departments, including engineering, electrical, communications, navigation, aviation and technical, will shortly be sent to the United States to familiarise itself with what will be the navy’s second largest ship after aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

Meanwhile, a nomenclature committee has already been set up by the navy to decide on a suitable name for the Austin-class Trenton.

It will be finalised soon after South Block signs on the dotted line and sends its approval back to the Pentagon.

The Indian Navy is acquiring the ship, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1971, for Rs 200 crore, a sum that covers training costs for Indian personnel.

The navy’s eagerness to induct the Trenton is also seamlessly in line with its post-tsunami ethics of being looked at as a force that can deliver massive amounts of relief material or big troop numbers across large distances.

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